We recently went to a few Native American sites near Prescott, Arizona with our kids.  My husband’s “Mo-Dar” was in rare form.  I must have been sleep-walking to miss a few of these obvious fellow Mormons also out visiting these sites with their kids.

So, can you spot Mormons?  How good is your Mo-Dar?  Here are the clues we generally pick up on:

  • people traveling with small kids in tow
  • modest clothing with knee-length (or longer) shorts and shoulders covered for women
  • occasionally, “eternal smile” garment lines under the husband’s shirt or other visible garment lines
  • smiles and general friendliness
  • couple using Spanish as a second language to communicate “over” their kids listening ears

In turn, we have been spotted as Mormons in some unlikely places.  My husband and I were travelling in Hawaii and we stopped to see a waterfall.  We didn’t have the kids along, and a woman came up and volunteered to take our picture.  Afterwards she winked at us and said, “You’re Mormons, aren’t you?  So are we.”  The only “marker” I could think of was the fact that we were dressed modestly in Hawaii, and we were friendly.  FWIW, my husband wears a goatee.

I have also found that it’s not the same as looking “Wonder Bread” either (not that we don’t look that way–we probably do).  My Mo-Dar has blipped over people of various races:  Asian, Hispanic, African-American, etc.  There is a certain je ne sais quoi, a Mormon quality to people that makes us stand out.  Incidentally, I have some non-Mormon friends who have this quality also, but the key difference (lack of Mo-Dar) is usually related to dress in those cases.  While they are dressed modestly, maybe it is Catholic modesty vs. Mormon modesty.  And, conversely, I’m sure there are some Mormons who don’t blip my Mo-Dar (if you know what I mean).

So, what makes your Mo-Dar blip?  And are these qualities the same as receiving His image in our countenance or just looking dorky?  Would Jesus look Mormon?